Multisurface continuous printing apparatus

ABSTRACT

A multisurface continuous printing apparatus comprising a plurality of vacuum printing frames disposed horizontally on the circumference of the end portions of rotatable main arms and capable of simultaneously exposing photographic patterns on both surfaces of thin sheet materials applied with photosensitive resin; a light source or an exposure tunnel disposed on a part of said circumference to carry out exposure from both surfaces of said frame simultaneously; a rotary joint of vacuum piping provided on a rotary shaft to carry out vacuum suction of each vacuum printing frame; a rail fixed to said main arm in the form of a circle and supporting said vacuum printing frames with a plurality of rollers; and a driving means attached to the mount, the torque of which being transmitted through transmission devices and said rollers.

United States Patent [72] Inventor: Eiichi Suzuki, Niiza, Japan [73]Assignee: Toppan Printing Co., Ltd., Tokyo, Japan [22] Filed: Feb. 16,1971 [21] Appl. No.: 115,526

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Feb. 19, 1970 Japan ..45/ 14301[52] US. Cl. ..355/89, 355/26, 355/91 [51] Int. Cl. ..G03b 27/04 [58]Field of Search ..355/26, 89, 91, 93, 94

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,409,363 ll/l968 Matthaes..355/89 X 3,479,121 ll/l969 Burgess ..355/91 X 2,916,982 12/1959 Caineet a1 ..355/101 2,947,234 8/1960 Faeber ..355/93 X 3,385,193 5/1968Dougherty et al. ..355/93 Suzuki Sept. 5, 1972 [54] MULTISURFACECONTINUOUS 3,455,634 7/1969 Guffon ..355/91 PRINTING APPARATUS 865,7979/ l 907 Palmer et al ..355/ 89 Primary Examiner-Samuel S. MatthewsAssistant Examiner-Alan A. Mathews Attorney-Ostrolenk, Faber, Gerb &Soffen ABSTRACT A multisurface continuous printing apparatus comprisinga plurality of vacuum printing frames disposed horizontally on thecircumference of the end portions of rotatable main arms and capable ofsimultaneously exposing photographic patterns on both surfaces of thinsheet materials applied with photosensitive resin; a light source or anexposure tunnel disposed on a part of said circumference to carryout'exposure from both surfaces of said frame simultaneously; a rotaryjoint of vacuum piping provided on a rotary shaft to carry out vacuumsuction of each vacuum printing frame; a rail fixed to said main arm inthe form of a circle and supporting said vacuum printing frames with aplurality of rollers; and a driving means attached to the mount, thetorque of which being transmitted through transmission devices and saidrollers.

5 Claims, 5 Drawing figures MULTISURFACE CONTINUOUS PRINTING APPARATUSand therefore the operation is interrupted each time as the frames areto be stopped.

The object of this invention is to provide a multisurface continuousprinting apparatus capable of processing sheet materials in greatnumbers in photoetching them and by saving the labor required therefor.According to this invention, several tens of vacuum printing frames arearranged horizontally in a circle and are continuously rotated. Whilesaid vacuum printing frames are continuously rotated, sheet materials tobe processed are mounted, are completely closely contacted withphotographic master patterns through vacuum suction and are exposed whenthey are passed through an exposure tunnel. After that, vacuum isreleased and the processed materials are withdrawn, thus completing theexposure operation. The abovedescribed through process for a pluralityof vacuum printing frames makes it possible to operate several tens ofprinting frames only by two operators.

In carrying out photoetching, an ultraviolet ray having about 400 mp. ofwavelength is required as a light source for exposure. In addition, thequantity of light of such a light source should be large. Prior artapparatus have employed carbon arc lamps or the like. However, suchlamps produce smoke and heat and the quantity of light thereof isunstable. Therefore, they have been replaced by high pressure mercurylamps. The high pressure mercury lamps are disadvantageous in thatinstant lighting thereof is difficult and it takes much time before thequantity of I light becomes steady. Consequently, in order to employsuch lamps as a light source for photoetching, mechanical shutters arerequired or it is necessary to adjust the exposure time by insertingprinting frames into or removing them from the light source chamber. Inthe apparatus according to this invention, a plurality of high pressuremercury lamps are arranged on the upper and lower sides. Also, anexposure tunnel which is lighted all day long is provided. The operationis started after the quantity of light becomes steady. Moreover, thespeed of rotary motion of printing frames is always constant. Therefore,this apparatus has an advantage that the exposure value to each sheetmaterial to be processed is always constant. Furthermore, the lightsource is efficiently utilized. Thus, when compared with theconventional method wherein a separate light source is required for eachprinting frame, the power consumption is reduced to one third or less ofthat of the conventional apparatus.

The advantages and features of this invention will become more apparentfrom the following description of an illustrative embodiment taken inconnection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of an embodiment of this invention and which isshown partly broken away;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of a driving unit taken along the line II IIin FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of an exposure tunnel taken along the lineIII IH in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a plan view of a printing frame; and

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of the printing frame taken along the line VV in FIG. 4.

The torque of a motor 1 shown in FIG. 1 is transmitted through, forexample a change gear 2 and a reduction gear 3 and then a driving shaft28 shown in FIG. 2 to a driving sprocket 27. The sprocket 27 rotates adriven sprocket 30 by way of a chain 31. A shaft 29 supported by aflange 23 serves as a common shaft for the sprocket 30 and a rubberroller 5. A plate 22 is driven in the same direction g as the drivensprocket 30 and is provided with a flange 24. Said plate 22 is rotatablyattached to a flange 25 of a mount 13 by a pin 26. A coil spring 33 isinserted in compressed form between the plate 22 and a seat plate 34 atthe top of a stay 32 secured to the mount 13. A force acting in thedirection indicated by the arrow i is applied to the plate 22 due to thecompressive force of the coil spring 33, while a force acting in thedirection indicated by the arrow j is applied to the flange 23. As aresult, the rubber roller 5 is strongly pressed against a rail 9. Whenthe rubber roller 5 rotates in the direction indicated by the arrow g,the rail 9 moves in the direction indicated by the arrow h.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, the rail 9 is made in a circular form and issecured through an appropriate number of main arms 8 and a center plate10 to a center shaft 11 which is rotatably attached. Printing frames 6are secured to the rail 9 by means of printing frame supporting arms 7.The printing frames 6 are installed in an appropriate number. In thecase of the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1, ten frames are installed.

Dry plate stands 14 are provided above a plurality of printing frames 6,one stand to every one frame. This stand is designed to mount an upperglass dry plate 54 thereon as illustrated in FIG. 5. As shown in FIG. 3,an appropriate number of rollers 12 are provided on the mount 13 tocarry the rail 9.

Thus, when the rubber roller 5 is driven, the rail 9 rotates with thecenter shaft 11 and a plurality of printing frames rotate, for example,in the direction of the arrow 0 as shown in FIG. 1. The referencenumeral 21 designates an operation box, by means of which the printingframes are rotated in the direction indicated by the arrow a or in thereverse direction.

Next, the exposure unit and the cooling unit will be described. Theprinting frames 6 shown in FIG. 1 are exposed by mercury lamps 16 whilethey are moving in the range indicated by the angle a. The sectionalview of the exposure unit is shown in FIG. 3. The reference numerals 39and 40 identify upper and lower exposure chambers, respectively. Inthese chambers, one or more mercury lamps are provided by way of longholes 41. The position of the mercury lamp 16 is freely adjustable bymeans of the long hole 41. The reference numeral 43 designates aheat-insulating glass for preventing the transmission of heat from themercury lamp 16. The reference numeral 73 identifies a peep window.

When the printing frame 6 is passed through an exposure tunnel 45, it issubjected to the light from the mercury lamps 16 from above andbelow.Thus, patterns 53 on glass dry plates S4 and 57 are printed onto theboth surfaces of a sensitive plate 56 shown in FIG. 5.

The exposure value is adjusted by extinguishing a part of the mercurylamps 16 in the exposure chambers 39 and 40.

Suction ports 17 and 18 and exhaust ports 19 and 20 are provided in theupper and lower exposure chambers 39 and 40, respectively, in order tocool the interior of said chambers (FIGS. 1 and 3). Cooling air isdelivered into the suction ports 17 and 18 by a fan. This air iscirculated through the exposure chambers 39 and 40 and is exhausted fromthe exhaust ports 19 and 20. The arrows b through e indicate thedirection of flow of cooling air. In FIG. 3, the suction ports 17 and 18and the exhaust ports 19 and 20 are shown in broken line.

Next, the printing frames will be described hereinbelow. Theconstruction of the printing frame will become apparent from FIG. 4illustrating a plan view thereof and FIG. illustrating a sectional viewthereof taken along the line C C of FIG. 4. As shown in FIG. 5, thelower glass dry plate 57 is placed on a lower frame 55 with the pattern53 faced upward and is secured thereto by a fixture 65. Then, thesensitive plate 56 whose both surfaces are applied with photosensitiveliquid is placed on the pattern 53, on which the upper glass dry plate54 is placed with the pattern 53 thereof faced downward. The upper andlower dry plates are accurately positionedby means of two register pins51 and bushes 60.

A transparent flexible sheet 61 is mounted on an upper frame 47 by usinga fixture 63, on which a transparent sheet 62 is placed to make theupper portion airtight. The reference numeral 64 identifies a rubber formaking the lateral side air-tight. As shown in FIG. 4, the upper frame47 is connected to the lower frame 55 with hinges 50 so that they arefreely opened or closed. The sensitive plate 56 and the upper glass dryplate 54 are mounted after the upper frame 47 is opened. Then, the upperframe 47 is closed and the both frames are closely clamped by a clampinglever 49.

Now, the vacuum suction mechanism will be described. Vacuum suctionprior to printing is carried out in the range shown by the angle B inFIG. 1. Piping is made from a vacuum pump 70 and a vacuum tank 71 shownin broken line in FIG. 3 to a rotary joint 37 by using a pipe 72 and aflexible hose 42. Then, piping is made between a vacuum suction port 38attached to the rotary joint 37 and a vacuum change-over valve 69 byusing a rubber hose 68.

As illustrated in FIG. 5, the change-over valve 69 is connected to ahose coupling 66 by means of a rubber hose 67. The hose coupling 66 isattached to the lower glass dry plate 57 and is in communication withthe in terior of the printing frame through a vacuum suction port 74. Byvirtue of the above-described piping system, suction is performed byoperating the changeover valve 69.

Hose couplings 38 are installed in the same quantity The operation ofeach element has been described so far. Now, the overall operation ofthe apparatus will be described with reference to FIG. 1. The case whenthe rail 9 and the printing frames 6 are rotated in the directionindicated by the arrow a by means of the above-described driving unitwill be examined. In the range of the angle 7, the vacuum change-overvalve (69 in FIG. 4) is turned otf and the upper frame (47 in FIGS. 4and 5) is opened. The upper glass dry plate (54 in FIG. 5) is removedand is placed on the dry plate stand 14. The sensitive plate (56 in FIG.5) is taken out. Next, a new sensitive plate is placed and the upperglass dry plate is set by the register pin (51 in FIG. 5). The upperframe is closed and is clamped by the clamping lever (49 in FIG. 4).After that, the change-over valve is turned on. Vacuum suction isstarted from this time on. Complete vacuum suction is carried out in therange of the angle B shown in FIG. 1. The piping system for vacuumsuction is as described hereinbefore. When vacuum suction is completed,the printing frame enters the exposure tunnel (45 in FIG. 3) andprinting is carried out by the light of the mercury lamps 16 in theexposure chambers (39 and 40 in FIG. 3) while said printing frame ismoving in the range of the angle 0:. During this process, the exposurechambers are cooled by cooling air as described hereinbefore. When theprinting frame passes through the range of the angle a and comes out ofthe exposure tunnel, one process is completed.

By virtue of the above-described construction wherein an exposure tunnelis provided, the apparatus according to this invention is capable ofperforming vacuum suction and exposure of both surfaces continuouslywithout stopping the printing frames, and therefore waiting time iseliminated. Thus, the apparatus according to this invention contributesto the saving in man power and the enhancement of operational efficiencyand is quite effective in practical use.

What is claimed is: v

1. A multisurface continuous printing apparatus, comprising:

a plurality of printing frame supports; rotation means, to which saidsupports are attached, for constantly and slowly rotating said supportsat a constant rate about a common, generally vertical axis; framesupports being held away from said vertical axis for easier access tothe frames;

a plurality of printing frames; each said frame having two oppositelyfacing printing surfaces; each said printing surface comprising thinsheet material to which is applied a photosensitive liquid and which iscapable of having a photographic pattern exposed thereon; each saidframe being carried on one of said printing frame supports and eachbeing oriented generally horizontal with respect to said vertical axissuch that said frame printing surfaces are horizontal; each said framebeing rotated about a circumference whereby exposure of a plurality ofsaid frames is performed by constantly and slowly rotating saidplurality of printing frame supports;

light sources disposed both above and below said frames over an arcuateportion of said circumference less than the whole thereof tosimultaneously expose both said frame surfaces.

2. A multisurface continuous printing apparatus as claimed in claim 1,further comprising a rotary joint of vacuum piping communicating with avacuum source; means for selectively connecting said piping with saidframes for evacuating same before each passes said light sources.

3. A multisurface continuous printing apparatus as claimed in claim 1,further comprising:

a circular rail carried on said rotation means; each said printing framesupport being connected with one of a plurality of rollers that engagesaid rail;

said rotation means comprising a drive means which generates torque thatis transmitted to said frame supports through a variable speedtransmission device comprising a variable speed gear system, said railand said rollers.

4. A multisurface continuous printing apparatus as claimed in claim 1,wherein each said printing frame comprises an upper and a lower frame;hinges foldably connecting together said upper and lowerframes;

said lower frame having an upper side; a lower glass dry plate disposedon said upper side of said lower frame; said lower glass dry platehaving an upper side that carries a pattern to be transmitted to aphotosensitive plate;

a photosensitive plate. placed over said lower glass dry plate;

an upper glass dry plate having a lower side which also carries apattern to be transmitted to said photosensitive plate; said upper glassdry plate being placed on said photosensitive plate with its said lowerside being placed over said photosensitive plate; said upper and lowerplates including complementary pins and bushes which register with eachother so as to arrange the said plates in a predetermined relativeorientation;

a transparent flexible sheet attached to said upper frame; anothertransparent sheet placed on said upper frame to maintain air tightnessthereof; said upper and lower plates having side edges around theirperipheries, a sealing rubber gasket near said.

side edges of said plates and disposed between said plates to maintainair tightness; a lever operated closing means for securing said upperand lower frames together.

5. A multisurface continuous printing apparatus as claimed in claim 1,wherein each said light source comprises a plurality of lamps arrangedin the form of a cir cular are less than a full circle; the lamps ofeach said light source being disposed in an enclosed exposure chamber;means connected with said plurality of lamps for selectivelyextinguishing or lighting the lamps to vary the exposure presentedthereby; each said exposure chamber having heat insulating, lighttransmitting glass on the side thereof facing said printing frame,thereby forming an exposure tunnel between the said glasses of saidchambers; each said exposure chamber including an inlet and an outletpermitting circulation of cooling air therebetween.

1. A multisurface continuous printing apparatus, comprising: a plurality of printing frame supports; rotation means, to which said supports are attached, for constantly and slowly rotating said supports at a constant rate about a common, generally vertical axis; frame supports being held away from said vertical axis for easier access to the frames; a plurality of printing frames; each said frame having two oppositely facing printing surfaces; each said printing surface comprising thin sheet material to which is applied a photosensitive liquid and which is capable of having a photographic pattern exposed thereon; each said frame being carried on one of said printing frame supports and each being oriented generally horizontal with respect to said vertical axis such that said frame printing surfaces are horizontal; each said frame being rotated about a circumference whereby exposure of a plurality of said frames is performed by constantly and slowly rotating said plurality of printing frame supports; light sources disposed both above and below said frames over an arcuate portion of said circumference less than the whole thereof to simultaneously expose both said frame surfaces.
 2. A multisurface continuous printing apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a rotary joint of vacuum piping communicating with a vacuum source; means for selectively connecting said piping with said frames for evacuating same before each passes said light sources.
 3. A multisurface continuous printing apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising: a circular rail carried on said rotation means; each said printing frame support being connected with one of a plurality of rollers that engage said rail; said rotation means comprising a drive means which generates torque that is transmitted to said frame supports through a variable speed transmission device comprising a variable speed gear system, said rail and said rollers.
 4. A multisurface continuous printing apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein each said printing frame comprises an upper and a lower frame; hinges foldably connecting together said upper and lower frames; said lower frame having an upper side; a lower glass dry plate disposed on said upper side of said lower frame; said lower glass dry plate having an upper side that carries a pattern to be transmitted to a photosensitiVe plate; a photosensitive plate placed over said lower glass dry plate; an upper glass dry plate having a lower side which also carries a pattern to be transmitted to said photosensitive plate; said upper glass dry plate being placed on said photosensitive plate with its said lower side being placed over said photosensitive plate; said upper and lower plates including complementary pins and bushes which register with each other so as to arrange the said plates in a predetermined relative orientation; a transparent flexible sheet attached to said upper frame; another transparent sheet placed on said upper frame to maintain air tightness thereof; said upper and lower plates having side edges around their peripheries, a sealing rubber gasket near said side edges of said plates and disposed between said plates to maintain air tightness; a lever operated closing means for securing said upper and lower frames together.
 5. A multisurface continuous printing apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein each said light source comprises a plurality of lamps arranged in the form of a circular arc less than a full circle; the lamps of each said light source being disposed in an enclosed exposure chamber; means connected with said plurality of lamps for selectively extinguishing or lighting the lamps to vary the exposure presented thereby; each said exposure chamber having heat insulating, light transmitting glass on the side thereof facing said printing frame, thereby forming an exposure tunnel between the said glasses of said chambers; each said exposure chamber including an inlet and an outlet permitting circulation of cooling air therebetween. 